Vinemont BB vs. Winfield in AHSAA 3A quarterfinal series:
Biggest series in the history for Vinemont Eagles baseball:
GDW Analysis:
VINEMONT: Mike Cupp Field at Vinemont High School will be a buzz this weekend as history is being made by the Eagles.
Vinemont is in the Elite 8 of Class 3A for the first time. The Eagles have worked their way to this round by winning two entertaining and grueling 3 game series over Randolph County and Phil Campbell.
Now comes the quarterfinal round with No. 3 Winfield paying a visit to Cullman County.
The series is set for a doubleheader at 4:30 & 7:00 p.m. Friday.
Game 3 if needed, would be Saturday at 1:00 p.m.
These are the top two teams in the North segment of 3A playoff baseball in regards of wins and losses.
Vinemont has 26 victories vs. 10 losses, ranked 7th in the final state poll.
Winfield comes to town winners of 30 out of 36 decisions and No. 3 in the poll.
Winfield has swept Glencoe and Lauderdale County through the first two rounds.
Vinemont has encountered a decisive 3rd game in both rounds, whipping Randolph County 19 to 2 in the finale of the first series April 18 and claiming a 15 to 5 triumph in Game 3 at Phil Campbell earlier this week.
The Eagles deal with a ball club that has been to the Elite 8 eight times since 2012.
Vinemont has never been this deep into the playoffs.
The Eagles have earned 10 wins in their last 15 games dating back to the quarterfinal round of the Cullman County tournament March 21 from Good Hope High School.
Vinemont's longest winning streak was six game from February 27 to March 4.
A highlight for Hunter Cornelius' Eagles was to play at Toyota Field, the home of the AA Rocket City Trash Pandas in Madison on March 27. Vinemont got a victory over Elkmont and lost a close on to East Limestone.
The Eagles in the playoffs have experienced the following.
Vinemont was stunned by Randolph County in the first game 7 to 4 and had to survive a 15 to 12 slugfest in the 2nd game to get the series to a tiebreaker.
The Eagles then used a great day at the plate by Rylan McRae who hit a grand slam and drove in 7 runs in their 19 to 2 runaway.
At Phil Campbell, the Eagles gained the series lead with a 12 to 2 triumph. Phil Campbell earned a 9 to 5 victory in Game 2, forcing the series to be finished this past Monday.
The Eagles broke out the hitting attack and would go on to a 15 to 5 triumph.
In four wins in the playoffs, the Eagles have scored 61 runs.
With both series coming to a Game 3 conclusion, the Eagles have outscored the opposition in this segment 34 runs to 7.
The winner of this series will play the winner of Whitesburg Christian vs. Gordo in the semifinals.
This series started Wednesday with both getting a split. Whitesburg won the opener 5 to 4 and Gordo came back in the nightcap 2 to 0.
Game 3 is Thursday in Gordo.
Photo of the Vinemont Eagles while playing a game at Toyota Field in Madison March 27.
Photo courtesy of Mystic Lotus Creations, LLC.
